Advice Pack for Smaller Firms
Sheet 7: Risk assessment at its very simplest
Hazards
Step 1: Classify your work activities in order to identify workplace hazards* at each operational phase eg. work equipment, substances, activities which could cause harm, for example: dangerous machinery; heavy loads; slipping, tripping and falling hazards; toxic and flammable substances; display screen equipment; vehicles; or violence from the public. Be systematic. Inspect the workplace. Study documentation and sector guidance. Consult your workforce and their representatives. Observe work practices. Use a hazard prompt list . Write down what you think your main hazards are. Use a simple pro forma with three columns.
Risks
Step 2: Work out how likely it is that each hazard might cause an accident or ill health and how serious the consequences might be (in other words, the risk* ). Consider how many people are exposed to each hazard, how often and for how long ? Study sources of information such as: accident and ill health statistics (in house and sector) and records; legislation and official guidance; workforce experience; evidence of ‘near-misses’; manufacturers’ information. Again, observe workforce practices. Use your judgements about likelihood and consequences of harm occurring to determine whether risks are: trivial; tolerable; moderate; substantial; or intolerable . Prioritise risks to help you determine where you should be putting preventive effort.
Control Measures
Step 3: Now determine whether or not ‘reasonably practicable’ control measures are in place for each risk. Check to see that they actually reduce risks to a tolerable level and/or that they comply with relevant legislation and/or official guidance or other standards. Improve where necessary . Always go for risk avoidance , control at source or risk reduction before selecting controls which rely only on use of personal protective equipment and/or training. Take account of employee’s personal characteristics . Also ensure that adequate emergency arrangements are in place (for example, first aid or evacuation procedures) in case controls should fail. Decide if you need health surveillance to assess fitness for work or to look for early signs of health damage.
Make sure that competent people and appropriate procedures are in place so that control measures continue to be effective, such as: necessary supervision and work authorisation; instruction; information and training; cooperation and communication; maintenance programmes; inspections; plus investigation of accidents/problems and ‘near misses’!
Recording
Step 4: Record your findings in writing (if you employ 5 or more people you are obliged to do this by law) and communicate them to employees and others affected.
Reviewing
Step 5: Review your assessments at least once a year (or sooner if things change ) to check that you are achieving adequate risk control. Remember, the aim is to learn from experience to ensure that you are addressing all sources of foreseeable harm to your workforce and/or the public - and that you are taking all ‘reasonably practicable’ steps to prevent it happening.
To help you with step one of your risk assessment programme, develop your own hazard prompt list from these examples of common workplace hazards:
| Slipping, tripping hazards Working at height Flammable gases Electricity Noise Vibration Radiation Biological hazards Violence Stress Machinery/work equipment Hand tools Transport |
Pressure systems Manual handling Chemicals Dust and Fume Confined spaces Repetitive manual work Temperature Lifting Plant DSE Seating Work Station Design |
Remember:
By law you have to make an "adequate and suitable" assessment of risks to your employees and others.
* A hazard is something with the potentia l to cause harm.
* Risk is the likelihood of that potential being realised.
The purpose of risk assessment is to confirm that risks have either been eliminated or are being adequately controlled. If you think it’s just a form filling exercise, you’ve missed the point!
|
RoSPA is a registered charity: Registered Charity No: 207823 Patron: Her Majesty the Queen RoSPA Head Office: Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK |
 |